Arsenal now know how much they will have to pay to snap up an experienced Premier League right-back. Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are carefully crafting their summer recruitment strategy, keen to improve as they look to bridge the gap to PSG, but they must be careful not to disrupt what is already a very good team.

There are one or two areas Arteta wants to strengthen, with the left-wing and number 8 roles the biggest priority, in that order, while the Spaniard will also want a little more depth at right-back, given Ben White’s injury troubles, and then it will be about replacing any squad players who are lured away by the opportunity to start regularly elsewhere.

Wan-Bissaka price tag emerges

One of Arsenal’s less expected summer targets is said to be West Ham star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who will be hoping to stay in the Premier League despite the Hammers being relegated. Wan-Bissaka did well with DR Congo in the World Cup this summer, and he has proven himself a solid defender at Premier League level.

The former Manchester United star is not going to be seen as a starting option for Arsenal, but he can certainly be a deputy at the position, and his pace means he can offer something different off the bench. That pace on the right is arguably something Arsenal don’t have enough of between White and Timber.

According to The Athletic, West Ham will commission a Wan-Bissaka sale this summer, but they are asking for a £25million asking price to be met. The 28-year-old is likely to want a move, but he is under contract until 2031, giving West Ham plenty of control over his future.

The Hammers are set to make £10million on their initial £15million investment.

Wan-Bissaka is ‘the best’ at one particular skill

Wan-Bissaka has regularly been dubbed the best one-on-one defender in the Premier League over the years. James Maddison once said: “AWB is ridiculously good at 1 v 1 defending. Probably the best in the world bar none. So many wingers run out of ideas when playing directly against him.”

Martin Keown added back in 2020: “He’s a magnificent defender, simply the best one-against-one defender in the Premier League. He’s patient, look how close he gets to his opponent. Sterling has got electric pace but it doesn’t matter because he goes in. He takes charge of things.

“People thought I was good and I think this guy is ahead of me. He has got that arrogance and great pace. He picks his moment, it’s brilliant defending. His teammates know he is their best defender.”

A shock seat swap in Formula One could be on the cards for next season.

The F1 season has been full of its usual twists and turns, both on and off the track. The latest reports, however, suggest one of the most dramatic transfers could well unfold. And this rumour appears to have more substance than the usual ‘Silly Season’ gossip.

As F1 approaches its summer break, the drivers and their camps plot out potential moves. As it becomes clear which constructors have the fastest cars and which driver in their pairings has priority, tensions and frustrations can rise. This has been particularly true in the McLaren camp.

While they produced the fastest cars last season, they have been off the pace this year. That, in addition to their ‘papaya rules’, has led Oscar Piastri to become increasingly upset with the team. The Australian has been linked with a move away since the end of the 2025 season, when he lost out on the championship to his teammate Lando Norris.

Driver Unhappy With His Current Team

Andrew Boyers via Reuters

Piastri and his team believe he has been treated unfairly under the papaya rules. These are a set of guidelines that are intended to foster clean racing by allowing them to race, but must do so without any contact.

However, it has caused some controversy, particularly due to its inconsistent application in situations where McLaren have issued team instructions to Piastri, ordering him to allow his teammate Norris through. This has caused a strained relationship between his manager, Mark Weber, and the team.

With speculation mounting, it may be that his decision has now been made. The 24-year-old has a contract with the Woking outfit until 2028, but it has recently been revealed that he has an exit clause that could see him leave should he be outside the top five by summer break. Piastri currently sits in sixth with two races to go.

A report by Grande Premio claims that he is weighing up ‘activating his release clause and terminating his contract.’ The papaya rules, the 2025 season, and an underwhelming performance in the current season, have fractured his relationship with McLaren and ‘exposed internal friction’ between Webber and the British outfit’s leadership.

If Piastri is to leave, it would free up the possibility of F1’s biggest shock since Lewis Hamilton‘s move to Ferrari: Max Verstappen to McLaren.

Driver Swap Could Take Place

Like Piastri, Verstappen has cut a frustrated figure at his outfit. He has been transparent about his anger at the new regulations and has openly criticised the RB22 on multiple occasions. Amid speculation that he plans to leave Red Bull, or potentially even F1, rumours have spread linking him to McLaren.

Verstappen has a similar exit clause in his contract allowing him to leave should he finish outside the top two by the summer break. That condition has been fulfilled as the Dutchman cannot mathematically catch George Russell in second.

Bruna Casas via Reuters

Should both claims come to fruition, the most likely outcome is a swapping of the seats, which would see Verstappen race in the orange of McLaren while Piastri would join Red Bull.

With McLaren, alongside just about every outfit, longtime admirers of Verstappen, and Red Bull viewing Piastri as a successor to the Dutchman, this move makes a great deal of sense for all parties involved. However, nothing is concrete yet, with Webber also talking to Audi over a potential deal for his driver.

Chelsea are said to be pushing ahead with their next deal after their big-money signing of Marco Palestra. The Blues are backing Xabi Alonso this summer as they look to strengthen this squad to the point of being clear top four candidates after a season that saw them miss out on Europe altogether.

Chelsea were better than their final league position, but it was a chaotic season at the club, leading to two managerial sackings, and most were left wondering how differently the season would have ended had they simply stuck with Maresca, but relationships were splintered, leading to his sacking.

Alonso is now in charge, and there is excitement about the new playing identity the Spaniard will give the Blues. But that identity is not going to come without new signings, and right-back Palestra was the first to arrive, not including the pre-planned signing of Geovany Quenda.

Chelsea pressing ahead with Chavarria deal

Chelsea’s next main target is Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria, who is being seen as the Mar Cucurella replacement. Fabrizio Romano believes a deal is close, with the Blues set to return with a fresh approach.

“For Chelsea, we have to keep a close eye on the situation of Pep Chavarria, because Pep Chavarria is ready to go to Chelsea,” Romano said on his YouTube show.

“There is an agreement of personal terms between Rayo Vallecano and Chelsea. From what I understand, they are ready to send a new official bid, so Chelsea will return to the table with a new proposal for Chavarria, and he could be the next signing for Chelsea in terms of full-backs, after Marco Palestra on the right.”

Chavarria is said to have a release clause worth £21.5million, and Rayo are said to be demanding the full clause is reached and paid if they are to sell.

Chavarria a player who always wants to learn

Now former Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez, who has since joined Villarreal, said that Chavarria was “a luxury to have in the team,” with the full-back helping the Vallecas side to the Conference League final last season.

Speaking about his own progress, Chavarria said late last season: “I’m not the same player as when I arrived. I have learned a lot. The boss has helped me progress in what I needed to improve and I’m very happy because I keep learning every day.”

“My mentality year after year has been growing, and now as a reward, you find yourself in the Conference League quarter-finals and you are able to win.”